KAYSVILLE - The sale of Bowman’s Marketplace in Kaysville is still in the negotiations phase.

“We look forward to it, but there is nothing official," said Jonathan Badgar. He is the president of Lee’s Marketplace, a family-owned grocery chain with three locations that is based in Logan.

It’s hoped that an official announcement of the sale can be made in May, he said.

Lee’s was started in Smithfield, Cache County, in 1981 by Lee Badgar, Jonathan’s father. Many years later it opened a store in Logan, and later purchased an Acres grocery store in North Ogden, converting it to a Lee’s.

“We are local, friendly, and Bowman’s offers the same services that we stand for," Jonathan Badgar said.

“We are closed on Sundays, don’t sell tobacco. As a part of our negotiations we will consider the values they (Bowman’s) have."

He emphasized a desire to be supportive of the community - a tradition that Bowman’s has followed for decades.

For example, Bowman’s has sponsored a Pioneer Day breakfast each year. All the proceeds are donated to Kaysville City Recreation.

Bowman’s celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, said Gaylen Sprague, a store manager.

He said Bowman’s has 142 employees. Many of them are high school and students, getting their first chance at employment from the store.

Over the years, Bowman’s has been housed in a few locations, including on east 200 North. It is now at 326 N. Main.

For a brief time, Bowman’s owned and operated a grocery store in Farmington that had previously been called Woody’s. That store was later sold and razed.